VMware Tools installation fails with the error: The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed

Products

• VMware Desktop Hypervisor

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• VMware Tools installation fails
• VMware Tools installation generates the error:
  
  The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in safe mode or if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed.

Environment

VMware Player 4.x (Linux)
VMware Player Pro 7.x (Windows)
VMware Fusion Pro 8.x
VMware Workstation 8.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation Pro 14.x (for Windows)
VMware Fusion 4.x
VMware Workstation 6.x (Windows)
VMware Player 6.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation 10.x (Windows)
VMware Fusion 1.x
VMware Player 6.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation Player 15.x (Windows)
VMware Fusion 10.x
VMware Fusion 5.x
VMware Player 5.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation Player 12.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation Player 14.x (Windows)
VMware Fusion 8.x
VMware Workstation Pro 14.x (for Linux)
VMware Workstation 7.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation Pro 15.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation 8.x (Linux)
VMware Player 7.x (Windows)
VMware Player 5.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation Player 14.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation Player 12.x (Windows)
VMware Fusion 6.x
VMware Workstation Pro 15.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation 11.x (for Linux)
VMware Player 7.x (Linux)
VMware Fusion 2.x
VMware Workstation Player 15.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation 7.x (Windows)
VMware Fusion Pro 10.x
VMware Fusion 3.x
VMware Workstation 9.x (Windows)
VMware Player Pro 7.x (Linux)
VMware Player 3.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation 11.x (for Windows)
VMware Player 4.x (Windows)
VMware Fusion 7.x
VMware Workstation 9.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation 10.x (Linux)
VMware Player 3.x (Windows )

Resolution

To resolve this error and install VMware Tools successfully, you must stop an existing installation and begin the installation again.

To stop an existing installation:

1. Right-click My Computer.
2. Click Manage.
3. Click Services and Application.
4. Click Services.
5. If the VMware Tools Service exists:
   1. Right-click the service.
   2. Click Stop.
       
6. Scroll down and select Windows Installer.
   1. Right-click the service.
   2. Click Start.

To begin the installation again:

1. Click Virtual Machine > Install VMware Tools.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions in the installation wizard.
3. Reboot the virtual machine.

If the issue persists and you are using VMware Fusion, see Troubleshooting a failed VMware Tools installation in Fusion (1027797).